144 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 



and then he drove right out among the 

 splashing and roaring waves, until I begged 

 him to go back. While we were there, a 

 lot of boys and girls came down with bath- 

 ing-suits on, and they just splashed right 

 out into the ocean. They woidd just stand 

 still and let a big wave knock them over, 

 and one little girl who had a very pretty 

 bathing-suit and bathing-hat just sat dowL 

 until a big wave came up, then she tipped 

 over back, and all we could see of her was 

 her heels kicking about as they stuck out 

 into the air, from the crest of a foaming 

 wave. When she came out she looked as 

 rosy as could be, and I saw her next day at 

 Sunday-school. My friends wanted me to 

 go in, but I think 1 like the warm springs 

 best, especially in winter time. 



Hello ! the old engine has been puffing 

 and puffing, and now the wheels have slip- 

 ped so much it is standing still. We are 

 above the clouds, and they lie below us like 

 a great ocean. Here we can see the pine- 

 trees on the opposite side of the clouds, so it 

 is now like a great lake. A boy in the next 

 seat declares it is a lake. Now we see lit- 

 tle "puddles" of clouds settled in the low 

 spots or hollows between the hills. 



Later. — Our old locomotive has had to give 

 it up— it is too hard climbing. The passen- 

 gers are all out in the moonlight enjoying 

 themselves on the mountains. I don't know 

 what they expect to do.— Later.— They tele- 

 graphed for a "younger" locomotive (the 

 other was an old one), and now we are just 

 making the gravel fly as we climb up. 



Dec. 12. — We are over the mountain, but 

 still 4500 feet high. On my homeward trip 

 I have decided to try a cheaper way of trav- 

 el. I started in the ordinary coaches ; and 

 by sleeping in my seat I have saved $3.50 

 per day thus far. I slept pretty well, 

 and, were it not that I should come be- 

 fore my friends looking worn out, I think 

 I should keep it up clear home. Last night 

 I took a sleeper, $2.00, providing I got up at 

 6 o'clock, which, of course, I should do any 

 way. A nice clean bed, where I could 

 stretch my limbs at full length, was a luxury 

 after a night in the seats. Reader, did you 

 ever thank God for a clean soft bed, with 

 plenty of room ? If not, do so now, and 

 thank him that it doesn't cost $2.00 a night. 



This morning, while the passengers were 

 loudly complaining of the poorness of a 

 breakfast (here at Battle Mountain) that 

 cost them 75 cts. each, I enjoyed a most 

 delicious rerast here in the car at a cost of 

 thirteen cents. Shall I give you the bill of 

 fare ? A huge but delicious California pear, 

 5 cts.; crackers and cheese, 5 cts.; home- 

 dried figs, 3 cts. The crackers and cheese 

 were in a large paper bag, set in my open 

 sachel, placed in the seat beside me, so I 

 could, by holding my head over it, avoid 

 unsightly crumbs on my seat or person. In 

 fact, I finished my breakfast before day- 

 light. The fruit I got of boys at the stations 

 where the cars stop. Never buy fruit on 

 the cars. One train-boy wanted 25 cts. for 

 three apples, and was abusive because I told 

 my neighbor that, in Ohio, we could get a 

 bushel for 25 cts. I did not mean the boy 

 should hear me. There is certainly a great 



wrong in this matter of "daily bread "in 

 traveling. When I first arrived at Los An- 

 geles it was 11 o'clock at night, and raining 

 hard. The hotel right at the station, and in 

 which the Southern Pacific have located 

 their ticket-offices and waiting-rooms, charg- 

 ed me $1.75 for lodging and breakfast, nei- 

 ther of which was first class. A few days 

 later I had lodging and breakfast at the old- 

 est hotel in the city, with a pretty room, 

 lighted with gas, and all accommodations to 

 match, and yet the charge was only 75 cts. 

 without the dollar. The extra dollar I paid 

 was to support a gilded whisky-shop ; and 

 my friend, the man who sells liquors, may 

 be expected to defraud and swindle, for he 

 acknowledges himself devoid of conscience 

 by the act of liquor-selling. Is it not time 

 for good people to refuse to stop at any hotel 

 keeping a bar V At the one mentioned, a 

 glittering display of liquors occupies one 

 whole side of the room for the reception 

 of guests. 



In traveling in California I have felt much 

 better to drink no water at all, not even 

 tea and coffee. The luscious fruit, to be had 

 in such profusion at every season, furnishes 

 all that can be desired to allay thirst. 



Noon.— Since crossing the Rockies we find 

 the ground and still pieces of water frozen 

 over, and the beautiful gardens have given 

 place to winter ; but until now we have seen 

 no snow. Strange to tell, while there isn't 

 a particle of snow here, right over a little 

 way, across a sharply defined line, are moun- 

 tains and highlands perfectly white with 

 snow. I have thought for half an hour we 

 must run into the snow soon, but it still 

 stays just about so far ahead of us Well, I 

 have found out why it is winter in some 

 spots and not in others. The white moun- 

 tains are the highest ; and here at Wells the 

 snow-line is sharply defined. The snow 

 comes down just so far and no further ; in 

 fact, a farmer might plow up to where the 

 snow commenced. 



Near the State line between Nevada and 

 Utah we see miles upon miles of a sort of 

 fence, to prevent snow from drifting on the 

 track. It is simply a sort of board fence 

 leaning away from the track. They are 

 used only where the track is lower than the 

 ground. Sometimes they are on one side of 

 the track and sometimes on the other, 

 though 1 can't say whv. At some points 

 immense sheds, going clear over the track, 

 and inclosing it like a tunnel, are put up. 

 These must have cost an immense sum, 

 even though they are evidently made of 

 cheap lumber. 



Another little mountain is white with 

 snow, while a great big one is entirely bare. 

 Both are close by, but the white one is just 

 a little beyond. Now, as we ran up by them 

 the white one proved to be miles away, and 

 ever so much the higher ; yet when I first 

 saw them, had anybody told me the snow- 

 covered one was the larger, but miles away, 

 I should have called it ridiculous. Snow 

 capping is a pretty good indication of 

 height, I have often been told, for no one 

 can tell by appearances. 



Six o'clock, and now the monotony of the 

 sandy old desert is enlivened by the advent 



